The Town FilesPerham, Minnesota
City in Otter Tail County · population 3,512 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $199,000
- Household income
- $49,716
- Jan low / Jul high
- -2° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 33.2
Perham is a city of 3,512 people in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $199,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better transit than 97% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 86% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 83% of Minnesota towns.
How Perham ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Perham is worth $199,000, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $49,716, which is more affordable than 23% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $855 a month. 52.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Perham | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $855 | $991 |
| Median household income | $49,716 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 52.6% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Perham
| People | Perham | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 11.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 90.2% |
Weather in Perham
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows -1.9°F. About 26.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.5 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Perham since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 5, 2004 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 8, 2000.
Severe weather in Otter Tail County since 1996
Otter Tail County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2010 | Tornado | DR-1921: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 9, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1830: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Otter Tail County
Otter Tail County had 22,910 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,013 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Perham itself the ACS puts it at 8.9%.
Public schools in Perham
1 public school with 596 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEART OF THE LAKE ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 596 | 13.2 |
Towns near Perham
- Detroit Lakes, MN19.2 mi · 9,869 people · home $265,800
- Wadena, MN23.9 mi · 4,325 people · home $160,800
- Pelican Rapids, MN24.2 mi · 2,577 people · home $174,100
Perham questions
Is Perham, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Perham scores better for retirees than 79% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 29%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.2).
How much does a house cost in Perham?
The median owner-occupied home in Perham is valued at $199,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,716, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $855 a month.
What is the weather like in Perham?
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows -1.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.9 inches of precipitation a year and 47.5 inches of snow.
Does Perham get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Perham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 5, 2004. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)